Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, Prumyslova 595, 252 50 Vestec, Czech Republic.
Department of Urology, Pediatric Urology and Andrology, Molecular Andrology, Justus-Liebig University, 35392 Giessen, Germany.
Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Nov 28;21(23):9058. doi: 10.3390/ijms21239058.
The LINC (LInker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton) complex is localized within the nuclear envelope and consists of SUN (Sad1/UNc84 homology domain-containing) proteins located in the inner nuclear membrane and KASH (Klarsicht/Anc1/Syne1 homology domain-containing) proteins located in the outer nuclear membrane, hence linking nuclear with cytoplasmic structures. While the nucleoplasm-facing side acts as a key player for correct pairing of homolog chromosomes and rapid chromosome movements during meiosis, the cytoplasm-facing side plays a pivotal role for sperm head development and proper acrosome formation during spermiogenesis. A further complex present in spermatozoa is involved in head-to-tail coupling. An intact LINC complex is crucial for the production of fertile sperm, as mutations in genes encoding for complex proteins are known to be associated with male subfertility in both mice and men. The present review provides a comprehensive overview on our current knowledge of LINC complex subtypes present in germ cells and its central role for male reproduction. Future studies on distinct LINC complex components are an absolute requirement to improve the diagnosis of idiopathic male factor infertility and the outcome of assisted reproduction.
LINC（核骨架与细胞骨架的连接）复合物位于核膜内，由位于核内膜的 SUN（Sad1/UNC84 同源结构域蛋白）和位于核外膜的 KASH（Klarsicht/Anc1/Syne1 同源结构域蛋白）组成，从而将核与细胞质结构连接起来。核质侧作为关键部分，在减数分裂过程中正确配对同源染色体和快速染色体运动中起作用，而细胞质侧在精子发生过程中对头的发育和适当的顶体形成中起着关键作用。另一个存在于精子中的复合物参与头对头的连接。完整的 LINC 复合物对于产生有生育能力的精子至关重要，因为编码复合物蛋白的基因突变与老鼠和人类的男性生育力低下有关。本综述提供了关于生殖细胞中存在的 LINC 复合物亚型及其在男性生殖中的核心作用的综合概述。对不同的 LINC 复合物成分进行进一步研究是提高特发性男性因素不育症诊断和辅助生殖结果的绝对要求。
